Airship.



J! T. LONG.

AIBSHIP.

APPLIOATIOI FILED FEB. 16. 1911.

4 BEBB'I'B-BKBET 1.

I i 5 I93: i

vnus-In MIDI-AIM ca WWW. I. c.

INVENTORL JOhn 11 Long' A 'ITORNE Y.

J. T. LONG.

AIBBHIP.

APPLIOATIOI rrLnn rmma, 1am.

m R 0 mm L w HT m mm m X 0 n J m @m% WA" LL4- WITN A TI'ORNE Y.

J. T. LONG. AIBSHIP. APPLIOATIOH rum) r1113. 13, 1911.

1,026,959. Patented May 21, 1912.

4 SHEETS-IKE 8.

IN VENTOR.

John T. Long. BY

A TTORNE Y.

Null-A mill-m emu-.vmmnun. u

J. '1. LONG.

AIBSHIP.

APPLIUATIOI nun 1-23.10, 1911.

1,026,959. Patented May 21, 1912.

4 SIBE'll-SIIEET 1.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. LONG, 0F ENCANTO, CALIFORNIA.

AIRSHIP.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN T. Lose, a resident of Encanto, in the countyof San Diego and State of California, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Airships; and the following is a full, clear, andexact description thereof, so that those versed in the art to which itappertains may make and use the same.

My invention relates to airships in which are combined certain elementsof the dirigible balloon, aeroplane, and helicopter types, and theobjects are, first, to provide an airship which has a sufficient gassustaining force to overcome its own weight and still not be cumbersometo manage in the air,

second, to provide such an airship with planes adapted for balancing itand for raismg and lowering it when in flight, third, to )rovide afurther means for raising, lowermg and propelling the same in the formof helicopters operated singly or in tandem, in large tubes which extendvertically and horizontally through said airship, fourth to provide aready means for increasing, decreasing and reversing the operatin forceof the propellers or helicopters, and fth, to provide an airship of sucha construction that it will operate in the water.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists of certainnovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts aswill be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth inthe appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the characters of reference thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

In the drawlngs, Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my airship comlete, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereo Fig. 3 1s a plan viewthereof, Fig. 4 is a plan view of the lower portion thereof showing thegas bag by dotted lines, Fig. 5 is a rear end elevational View, Fig. 6is a transverse sec tional view through AB in Fig. 3, Fig. 7 is a detailview showing the power transmission mechanism connected to the verticalpropellers, Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of my reversible bladepropeller, Fig. 9 is a sectional view of one of said propellers shown inconnection with the supports and operating mechanism and Fig. 10 is aside elevational view of a portion thereof.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

Specification of Letters Patent Application filed February 16, 1911.

Patented May21, 1912.

Serial No. 609,031.

In the drawings, numeral 1 represents the gas bag, 2 the side planes, 3the vertical tubes, 4 the vertical propellers, 5 the front propeller, 6the rear steering propellers, 7 the horizontal tubes, 8 the horizontalpropellers, and 9 and 10 the engines.

The gas bag 1 is oval shaped as shown best in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and isprovided with shields 1 and 1 at its ends. It is made of materialadapted for and filled with hydrogen gas. Through the central portion ofthe bag 1 is provided a plurality of vertical tubes 3 which extendupwardly through the bag, and the body of the ship. In these tubes areplaced propellers 4 which are adapted to operate therein. In thedrawings I have shown only one propeller in each tube, but if desiredthere may be several propellers in each tube, one above the other. Thesepropellers are operated by means of endless cables and shaftingconnected with engines 9 and 10, through the walls of the tubes 3 asgraphically shown in Fig. 7. These propellers 4 are for the purpose ofassisting in raising and lowerin the machine. The gas bag is of asufficient capacity to approximately sustain the weight of the machineand its load. The frame below the gas bag is covered with material whichadapts it to float in the water. To the gas bag 1 is suspended by properlashings, a supporting frame which is attached to the pieces 1 and 1 atthe ends. In the lower part of this frame, on each side, are providedlongitudinal tubes 7 in which are placed propellers 8 which are adaptedto operate therein. These propellers are for the purpose of assistin inpropellin the machine. In the drawn s there is s own only one propellerin eac tube, but there may be several of these propellers in each tube,if desired, to further facilitate its propelling. These ropellers areoperated by means of cables in operative connection with said engines 9and 10. Centrally located in this frame are two engines 9 and 10, whichoperate in unison. Either one is of sufficient power to operate thepropellers, so that in case one becomes disabled, the other will besufiicient to operate the machinery. Upon the front end of the machinemounted on piece 1 is a propeller 5 which is ada ted to force themachine forward or bac ard as desired. This propeller is operated bymeans of cables in operative connection with the engines 9 and 10.Between each of the engines 9 and 10 and their cable connections may bepro vidcd clutches, so as to allow the operation of one of said engineswithout the other, and to allow the starting of the mechanism after theengines have acquired suliicient speed. On the rear end of the machineattached to piece 1 and to the frame near the bottom are provided twopropellers with reversible blades. These propellers are for the purposeof turning the machine laterally, and they are constructed as shown bestin Figs. 8, 9, and 10. The propeller located near the bottom of theframe is specially adapted for steering the airship in case of operatingit on the water. All the propellers are operated by means of endlesscables in operative connection with the engines 9 and 10, similar tothose shown in Fig. 7, the propellers all being the reversible bladekind as shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10.

Attached to the piece 1 and to the frame of the machine res ectively arebraces 6 that extend toward the rear and connect with rings 6 inside ofwhich operate the propellers 6 which are revolubly mounted upon otherbraces 6 which extend outwardly, and are provided with shafts 6", uponwhich are mounted these propellers. These ropellers are preferablycomposed of four b ades 6. Around the shafts 6, some distance therefrom,are provided rings 6' and the propeller blades are pivotally mountedtherein, and on the inner ends of said propeller blades are providedcranks 6 which are pivotally attached to thrust pieces 6. These thrustpieces are adapted to be thrust endwise on shaft 6 and thereby rotatethe propeller blades as desired. The thrust pieces are operated by meansof levers 6 which connect at their other ends with cables 6 throughpulleys 6". Said cables extend to the station of the operator of themachine.

Horizontally on each side of the machine and approximately at the middleof the bag are rovided side planes 2. Said planes are divided into aplurality of sections 2 which are pivoteilly attached to the frames ofsaid planes. These planes are pivoted to the frame at points 2", and therear ends are mounted upon segments 2 which are provided with cableswhich facilitate the movement of the rear end of the main planes 2,upwardly and downwardly, on said segments, thereby causing the airshipto rise or fall as desired. The segments 2 are provided with rods 2running lengthwise with said main planes and pivotally attached to eachof the sections 2. To these rods 2 are attached links 2 which arepivotally connected to levers 2'. These levers 2 are rovided on theirlower extended ends with evers 2 upon the ends of which are connectedcables 2* which extend to the station of the operator. By pulling one ofthe cables 2*, operates lever 2, thrusting the link 2 lengthwise whichin turn thrusts the rod 2 endwise and folds the sections over eachother, thereby lessening the area of the main planes.

Though I have shown and described a particular, detailed construction, Ido not wish to be limited to this particular con struction, but desireto include in the purview of my invention the principles substantiallyas embodied and set forth in the appended claims.

Y It will be readily seen that with this construction, there is providedan air ship which combines the qualities of the dirigible balloon or gasbag. with the adjustability of the aeroplane, that the propellersoperating in tubes provide an additional lifting and sustaining power,that the planes are adjustably adapted to increase or decrease thesustaining area and that the vertical propellers provide furthersustaining power without interfering with the machines for Ward orbackward movements, and that by means of the reversible blades in thesteering propellers, the airship may be turned in either direction bysimply adjusting the blades of said rear propellers.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Let ters Patent, is

1. An airship comprising a gas bag, a frame attached thereto, adjustableside planes one on each side attached to the said frame, a plurality oftubes extending vertically through said bag, and said frame, verticalpropellers in said tubes, means for operating said propellers, andreversible pro ellers on the rear end adapted to change the lateraldirection of the machine, all sub stantially as set forth.

2. An air ship comprising, a gas bag, a. frame attached thereto,adjustable side planes attached to each side of said frame, a pluralityof tubes extending vertically through said bag and frame, vertical propellers in said tubes, means for operating said propellers, a reversiblepropeller on the rear end adapted to change the lateral direction of themachine, longitudinal tubes in the frame of said machine, and propellersadapted to operate therein, all substantially as setforth.

3. An air ship comprising, a gas bag, a frame suspended therefrom,adjustable side planes attached one on each side of said frame, aplurality of tubes extending vertically through said bag and frame,propellers in said tubes, a reversible propeller on the rear end of saidframe adapted to change the lateral direction of the machine, a.plurality of longitudinal tubes 1n the frame of said machine, propellersadapted to operate therein, and common power means for operating all ofsaid propellers, all substantially as set forth.

l. In an air ship, the combination of a gas bag, vertical tubesextending through said bag, propeller means for propelling said machineforward and backward, adjustable longitudinal planes adapted to guidesaid machine, vertically, a plurality of reversible propellerscomprising pivotally mounted blades and means for rotating said blades,all substantially as set forth.

In an air ship, the combination of a gas bag, vertical tubes extendingthrough said bag, propeller means for propelling said machine forwardand backward, adjustable longitudinal planes adapted to guide saidmachine vertically a steering means comprising a reversi le propellerhaving pivotally mounted blades, means for rotating said blades, and anannular guard around said blades, all substantially as set forth.

6. An air shi comprising, a gas bag, shields on the ends of said gasbag, a frame lashed to said gas bag and attached to said shields, awater-tight covering over the lower portion of said frame, adjustableside planes attached one on each side of said frame, means for foldingthe sections in said side planes so as to increase or decrease theirsustaining areas, a plurality of tubes extending vertically through saidairship, propellers in said tubes, reversible propellers on the rear endof said frame, one adapted to shift said machine laterally in the air,and the other adapted to shift said machine laterally in the water, aplurality of longitudinal tubes in said frame, propellers adapted tooperate in said tubes and a common means for operating all of saidpropellers, all substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN T. LONG. Vitnesses Emma E. RODABAUGH, ABRAM B. BOWMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0."

